Science X Newsletter Wednesday, Sep 3

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Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for September 3, 2014:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

- Non-volatile memory improves energy efficiency by two orders of magnitude
- Laniakea: Newly identified galactic supercluster is home to the Milky Way
- Researchers discover new clues to determining the solar cycle
- Study shows wild monkeys can learn new tricks from watching training videos
- Two-legged robot able to run without ZMP control (w/ Video)
- Cell factory runs with fits and starts
- Airlock-like transport protein structure discovered
- Cellular RNA can template DNA repair in yeast
- Tree frogs speed up their life cycle when becoming lunch
- A 'Clear' choice for clearing 3-D cell cultures
- Breakthrough for carbon nanotube solar cells
- Carbon stored in the world's soils more vulnerable to climate change than expected
- Sequencing of five African fishes reveals diverse molecular mechanisms underlying evolution
- Ancient mammal relatives were active at night 100 million years before origin of mammals
- How innovations can drive better transportation system

Astronomy & Space news

	Laniakea: Newly identified galactic supercluster is home to the Milky Way Astronomers using the National Science Foundation's Green Bank Telescope (GBT)—among other telescopes—have determined that our own Milky Way galaxy is part of a newly identified ginormous supercluster of galaxies, which they have dubbed "Laniakea," which means "immense heaven" in Hawaiian.
	Researchers discover new clues to determining the solar cycle Approximately every 11 years, the sun undergoes a complete personality change from quiet and calm to violently active. The height of the sun's activity, known as solar maximum, is a time of numerous sunspots, punctuated with profound eruptions that send radiation and solar particles out into the far reaches of space.
	Cosmic forecast: Dark clouds will give way to sunshine Lupus 4, a spider-shaped blob of gas and dust, blots out background stars like a dark cloud on a moonless night in this intriguing new image. Although gloomy for now, dense pockets of material within clouds such as Lupus 4 are where new stars form and where they will later burst into radiant life. The Wide Field Imager on the MPG/ESO 2.2-metre telescope at ESO's La Silla Observatory in Chile captured this new picture.
	How much gravity is enough? Team studies how astronauts determine 'up' in space Keeping upright in a low-gravity environment is not easy, and NASA documents abound with examples of astronauts falling on the lunar surface. Now, a new study by an international team of researchers led by York University professors Laurence Harris and Michael Jenkin, published today in PLOS ONE, suggests that the reason for all these moon mishaps might be because its gravity isn't sufficient to provide astronauts with unambiguous information on which way is "up".
	Image: NASA's Webb Telescope NIRSpec instrument (Phys.org) —A NASA photographer recently captured a "NIRSpec-tacular" photo of an instrument that will fly aboard NASA's James Webb Space Telescope when it launches in 2018.
	NASA invites public to submit messages for asteroid mission time capsule NASA is inviting the worldwide public to submit short messages and images on social media that could be placed in a time capsule aboard a spacecraft launching to an asteroid in 2016.
	Scientists' work may lead to mission to find out what's inside asteroids Future asteroid mining operations and how we deal with an impending strike could be influenced by research on a potential NASA mission that's being done by team that includes a University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) scientist.
	Image: An astronaut's view from space NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman tweeted this photo from the International Space Station on Tuesday morning, Sept. 2, 2014. "My favorite views from #space – just past #sunrise over the ocean," the Expedition 40 astronaut tweeted.
Amazing video timelapse of big telescopes at work in Chile What's it like to spend a night at a huge telescope observatory? Jordi Busque recorded a brilliant timelapse of the Very Large Telescope (VLT) and the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA). What makes this video unique is not only the exotic location in Chile, but the use of sound in the area rather than music.

Technology news

	Two-legged robot able to run without ZMP control (w/ Video) (Phys.org) —A team of researchers at the University of Tokyo has built a small two-legged robot (named Achires) capable of running without using Zero Moment Control (ZMP)—instead it relies on high speed cameras and actuators. The team, led by Masatoshi Ishikawa, is the same one that made news recently by building a robot that could beat any human at rock-paper-scissors.
	3D-printed robotic birds of prey are undergoing trials Robirds are remotely controlled robotic birds with the realistic appearance and weight of real birds. They were designed to use flapping wing flight for propulsion, with a flight performance comparable to real birds. With that in mind, and one needs little else motivation, viewers are able to enjoy just watching these Robirds, narration-free, cross the sky. The catchphrase from the company behind the birds, the Netherlands-based Clear Flight Solutions, is "We create birds." They are not just making the robots for fun or hobby pursuits; rather, they are addressing the problems of birds and aviation safety. As the company said, it may be marvelous to see birds flying through the skies but they can represent a lot of problems in waste management, agriculture, and aviation, and nothing tops the risks that birds cause at airports, said the company video. The little flyers can put the airplanes and their passengers at risk. The company ! has designed Robirds to mimic birds of prey, and these keep real birds at bay, with the birds assuming they are being threatened by the real deal. Birds learn to avoid the hunting grounds of the Robird. just as they would real birds posing danger.
	Samsung kicks off battle for holiday spending (Update) Samsung unveiled two smartphones and a virtual-reality headset Wednesday in a bid to draw consumer attention before its fierce rival, Apple, announces its holiday lineup next week.
	A mere ball, a very real mathematical challenge To what extent could we predict the number on which a roulette ball is going to fall? Philippe Paccaud, micro-technology student, tackled this complex issue in his master's thesis. In the end, there was no miracle equation, but instead a fair dose of ingenuity.
	Live from inside a battery: Researchers observe the phenomenon of 'lithium plating' during the charging process Lithium-ion batteries are seen as a solution for energy storage of the future and have become indispensable, especially in electromobility. However, when metallic lithium forms and deposits during charging it can lead to a reduced battery lifespan and even short-circuits. Scientists at the Technische Universitat München have now managed to peer into the inner workings of a battery without destroying it.
	Changing temperature powers sensors in hard-to-reach places A centuries-old clock built for a king is the inspiration for a group of computer scientists and electrical engineers who hope to harvest power from the air.
	How innovations can drive better transportation system A recent report provides some real numbers and real cases in point of the significant gains we will be making in adopting smart transportation technologies. Drops in U.S. oil consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, and time wasted waiting in traffic are a few of the paybacks one can expect. With current sales trends gas-electric hybrid vehicles represent significant potential fuel savings on the order of 2 billion barrels of oil and 170 million metric tons of carbon dioxide over a ten-year period. The report, "Accelerating Sustainability: Demonstrating the Benefits of Transportation Technology," by the Intelligent Transportation Society of America (ITS America), was announced late last month.
In light of celebrity hacks, how to protect data (Update) The circulation of nude photographs stolen from celebrities' online accounts has thrown a spotlight on the security of cloud computing, a system used by a growing number of Americans to store personal information over the Internet.
	Alpine project offers stunning 360 virtual view of Eiger A project using custom-made 360-degree cameras mounted on the backs of climbers scaling the Eiger in the Swiss Alps has captured a unique and dizzying view of the mountain's infamous north face.
	Celeb hacking scandal shows digital vulnerability To keep private pictures private, never upload them online.
	Adverts on the road could be a distraction for drivers People have to take in a lot of information when driving, including the locations of other road users, lane markings, signals, speed limits, directions and the dashboard display. It only takes a second to be distracted, so what if drivers now have to contend with adverts on the actual road surface?
	EU fines Samsung, Philips and Infineon over smartcard chip cartel (Update 2) The European Union fined Infineon, Philips and Samsung a total of 138 million euros (181 million dollars) on Wednesday for fixing the prices of smartcard chips, in its latest anti-trust case against technology firms.
	Who is to blame when iCloud is 'hacked' – you or Apple? A hacker's release of personal photos of actress Jennifer Lawrence and other female celebrities on the internet on the weekend has again drawn our attention to the security of our personal information online. Are we really aware of what we upload? And how can we make sure the information we intend for private viewing remains private?
Mobile wallet rebrands as Softcard US mobile payments firm Isis has officially changed its name to Softcard, completing the process of distancing itself from a militant Islamic group sometime known by the same acronym.
	Wind energy cuts the electricity bill The promoting of renewable energy is at the heart of the current debate on energy policy. From an economic perspective, the question focusses on determining the cost of the feed-in tariff systems. Firstly, whether the incentives are as expensive as has been maintained in the most recent regulatory modifications, and secondly, whether the effect is similar with respect to all renewable technologies. The study by the UPV/EHU's Bilbao Energy Research Team (BERT) tackles these questions empirically, and concludes that wind energy continues to produce greater savings than what its incentives amount to, while photovoltaic solar technologies are still in the development phase. The study has been published in the journal Energy Policy.
Simple passwords key to celebrity iCloud hacking Cyber-security expert Gerome Billois explains how a "targeted attack" on some iCloud accounts—the Apple online service that stores all types of content—led to the release of nude celebrity photos.
Tweets during 2013 Colorado floods gave engineers valuable data on infrastructure damage Tweets sent during last year's massive flooding on Colorado's Front Range were able to detail the scope of damage to the area's infrastructure, according to a study by the University of Colorado Boulder.
Verizon to pay $7.4 mn for US privacy violations US telecom giant Verizon has agreed to pay a $7.4 million fine to settle a probe into its privacy practices, including accessing customer data for marketing purposes, officials said Wednesday.
Study demonstrates wearable sensors to detect firearm use A new study from the University of Pennsylvania demonstrates that wearable sensors could one day transform the correctional system by tracking gun use by community-based offenders, who account for a disproportionate share of fatal and non-fatal shootings.
	Phones, watches and more unveiled at tech show Samsung and other electronics companies used the IFA trade show in Berlin to showcase their holiday lineups.
	Yahoo adds 'Style' to digital magazine line-up Yahoo on Wednesday hit the Internet catwalk with a digital fashion magazine dubbed 'Style.'
Forming consensus in social networks Social networks have become a dominant force in society. Family, friends, peers, community leaders and media communicators are all part of people's social networks. Individuals within a network may have different opinions on important issues, but it's their collective actions that determine the path society takes.
Google bio firm in $1.5 bn alliance against aging ills Google backed life sciences firm Calico and bio-pharmaceutical titan AbbVie on Wednesday announced an alliance to invest $1.5 billion to find ways to battle age-related diseases.
	Online fashion retailer Zalando plans IPO Europe's biggest online fashion retailer, Zalando SE, said Wednesday it plans a public listing on the Frankfurt stock exchange this year.
	Grindr relents to user backlash – but does it respect its users? The world's most popular gay social networking app, Grindr, is having a tough time. William Saponaro Jr is suing its developers for negligence, after he was arrested for sexual assault and endangering the welfare of a child. Sapnaro claims a 13-year-old boy that he and another man had sex with had been on Grindr – which has a minimum age requirement of 18 – and that the liaison had been arranged via the app.
Netflix gets global on-demand rights for 'Gotham' (Update) Netflix said Wednesday it had signed a deal giving it worldwide subscription video rights to "Gotham," a new series on the origins of Batman.
Intelligent welding clamp design software using computer-aided optimization CLAMPIT aims to develop a high-end decision supporting system that helps metalworking SMEs carrying out welding work to increase their efficiency by automatizing clamping design calculations.
	Tesla selects Nevada for battery plant (Update) Tesla Motors has chosen Nevada as the site for a massive, $5 billion factory that will pump out batteries for a new generation of electric cars, a person familiar with the company's plans said Wednesday.

Medicine & Health news

	Scientists discover how to 'switch off' autoimmune diseases Scientists have made an important breakthrough in the fight against debilitating autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis by revealing how to stop cells attacking healthy body tissue.
	Team demonstrates direct brain-to-brain communication in human subjects In a first-of-its-kind study, an international team of neuroscientists and robotics engineers have demonstrated the viability of direct brain-to-brain communication in humans. Recently published in PLOS ONE the highly novel findings describe the successful transmission of information via the internet between the intact scalps of two human subjects – located 5,000 miles apart.
	Nature or nurture? It's all about the message Were Albert Einstein and Leonardo da Vinci born brilliant or did they acquire their intelligence through effort?
	A 'Clear' choice for clearing 3-D cell cultures Because Brown University biomedical engineering graduate student Molly Boutin needed to study how neural tissues grow from stem cells, she wanted to grow not just a cell culture, but a sphere-shaped one. Cells grow and interact more naturally in 3-D cultures than when they're confined to thin slides or dishes.
	Is type 2 diabetes 'diabetes' as currently understood? The current way of diagnosing type-2 diabetes using blood glucose levels needs to be revised, research by scientists from The University of Manchester and King's College London suggests.
	Researchers isolate process that damages lungs of donors with traumatic brain injury Few people would guess that some of the most detrimental damage from a traumatic brain injury is to the lungs, but transplant specialists are keenly aware of this phenomenon. Indiana University research published Sept. 3 in Science Translational Medicine sheds light on the potentially lethal process.
	Can sleep loss affect your brain size? Sleep difficulties may be linked to faster rates of decline in brain volume, according to a study published in the September 3, 2014, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
	Partially hydrogenated oils in nine percent of packaged foods (HealthDay)—Nine percent of top-selling packaged food products in the United States contain partially hydrogenated oils, with most of these products reporting 0 grams of trans fat per serving, according to a study published Aug. 28 in the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Preventing Chronic Disease.
	Around one in ten UK women has dry eye disease, requiring artificial tears Around one in 10 women in the UK has dry eye disease, requiring artificial tears or gel to lubricate the eyes and protect them from damage, reveals the first UK research of its kind published online in the British Journal of Ophthalmology. Altered pain perception and psychological factors may be involved in the condition, say the researchers.
Isn't it time that UK family doctors embraced email services for their patients? E-mail services are either more convenient for patients and make better use of clinicians' time, or make more work for already hard pressed health-care professionals and threaten patient safety, argue two doctors in a Head to Head published in the British Medical Journal today.
	Estrogen increases cannabis sensitivity Smoking today's concentrated pot might be risky business for women, according to new research from Washington State University. The study is the first to demonstrate sex differences in the development of tolerance to THC.
Unplanned births out-of-hospital increases risk of infant mortality New research reveals that unplanned births out-of-hospital in Norway are associated with higher infant mortality. The findings published in Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica, a journal of the Nordic Federation of Societies of Obstetrics and Gynecology, indicate that young women who have given birth at least once before (multiparous) and those living in remote areas are more likely to have unplanned deliveries, which may increase the risk of death in newborns.
Stillbirth gap closing between indigenous and non-indigenous women, study shows The gap in stillbirth rates between indigenous and non-indigenous women in Queensland, Australia, is closing, however indigenous women are still at risk of stillbirth due to preventable causes, find researchers in a new study published today (3 September) in BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (BJOG).
Household air pollution puts more than one in three people worldwide at risk of ill health and early death Household air pollution, caused by the use of plant-based or coal fuel for cooking, heating, and lighting, is putting nearly three billion people worldwide at risk of ill health and early death, according to a new Commission, published in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine journal.
	New research unravels complex stroke mechanisms New research at the University of Adelaide has led to a deeper understanding of how the brain responds to stroke and which mechanisms may be harmful or beneficial following a stroke.
	How the latest Ebola strain may escape to kill again another day When Korean Air announced last month it would halt its three weekly flights to Nairobi due to fears of an Ebola pandemic in Liberia and Sierra Leone — both of which are several thousand miles away — critics accused the airline of overreacting. As the pandemic spread — first to Nigeria, and then to Congo — airlines have steadily canceled flights to afflicted nations to limit the risk, despite the protestations of the World Health Organization. But research conducted by the New England Complex Systems Institute in 2006 suggests the airlines' de facto quarantine is correct.
	The ABCs of getting 40 winks How early is too early for school? The American Association of Pediatricians recently recommended middle and high school start times be set no earlier than 8:30 a.m. The organization says the natural sleep cycles of teenagers make it tough for young people to fall asleep before 11 p.m. and difficult for them to "rise and shine" first thing in the morning.
Seizures and sudden death: When SUMO 'wrestles' potassium channels A gene crucial for brain and heart development may also be associated with sudden unexplained death in epilepsy (SUDEP), the most common cause of early mortality in epilepsy patients.
Research reveals mechanism behind cell protein remodeling The remodeling of a kitchen or bathroom changes the appearance of the room and improves its functionality. As investigators at Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey and Rutgers and Princeton Universities have demonstrated, a similar concept comes into play in remodeling proteins found within a family of cancers that does not respond well to cancer-treating drugs—cancers driven by what is known as activated Ras.
	New discovery could help turn antibiotic into antimalarial drug Melbourne researchers are making progress towards new antimalarial drugs, after revealing how an antibiotic called emetine blocks the molecular machinery that produces the proteins required for malaria parasite survival.
For kids with both asthma and obesity, which came first? For years, doctors have known that there is a link between childhood obesity and asthma, but have found it difficult to determine which condition tends to come first, or whether one causes the other.
You may have to watch what your fruits and veggies eat People with food allergies always have to watch what they eat. Now, they may have to watch what their fruits and vegetables eat, as it seems it's possible to have an allergic reaction to antibiotic residues in food.
	Aussie cannabis users found to self-medicate One in two Australians who grow cannabis for medicinal reasons are doing so without speaking to their doctor, according to responses from cannabis growers to an international survey.
	Sexual risk behaviors of Hispanic youth vary by language, place of birth A new study in the Journal of Adolescent Health finds that the sexual risk behaviors of young Hispanic people living in the U.S. vary considerably with their degree of acculturation (as defined by where they were born and the language they speak). For instance, while only about half of Spanish-speaking immigrants used a condom during their first sexual encounter, more than two-thirds of English-speaking immigrants and native-born Hispanic youth used one.
Why HIV patients develop dementia: Researchers track harmful immune reactions in the brain Since the introduction of the combination anti-retroviral therapy (cART) in the mid-90s, the life expectancy of HIV patients has significantly improved. As a result, long-term complications are becoming more relevant: almost every second HIV patient is affected by neurocognitive disorders, which can lead to dementia. It has not as yet been fully understood how these disorders occur. Researchers from Bochum have now successfully identified mechanisms how infected cells can activate brain-specific immune cells which subsequently display harmful behaviour and lead to the destruction of neurons. These findings may help develop biomarkers to identify risk patients and to make a therapeutic strategy possible in the long term. The study was published in the trade journal Experimental Neurology.
	Dentists help in fight against obesity, study finds (Medical Xpress)—The fight against obesity in the United States may have some unexpected allies—dentists. New research by the Yale School of Public Health has found that counties with a higher number of dentists per capita have strikingly lower rates of obesity than their peers, even within the same state.
	Mouse studies advance treatment for common eye diseases Working with mice, a multicenter team of researchers has found a new way to reduce the abnormal blood vessel growth and leakage in the eye that accompany some eye diseases. The finding could lead to the development of new drugs for wet macular degeneration and diabetic macular edema.
	Could a protein be linked to heart attacks? A team of researchers at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute, led by Dr. Alexandre Stewart, have uncovered an intriguing link between heart attacks and a protein that is of great interest to drug companies for its impact on cholesterol.
Enjoying the possibility of defeat: Suspense and uncertainty predict how much players enjoy a game Winning isn't everything, and in fact can even be a bit boring. Some people actually enjoy a game of tennis or poker more if their mettle is tested by a strong opponent – regardless of the outcome. It's the suspense and uncertainty of a close game that often brings them back for more, says a research team led by Sami Abuhamdeh of Istanbul Şehir University, in Springer's journal Motivation and Emotion.
New paper calls for more infection control surveillance, standardization in the emergency department When researchers searched the literature to determine adherence rates for various infection prevention protocols in the emergency department (ED), they discovered both a dearth of studies reporting ED practices and a lack of standardization that rendered some studies incomparable, according to a literature review published in the September issue of the American Journal of Infection Control, the official publication of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC).
	Skin cells used to create heart valve for growing kids (HealthDay)—While artificial heart valves have long been available to adults, making permanent valves for children has been challenging because kids' bodies keep growing.
'Drink responsibly' messages in alcohol ads promote products, not public health Alcohol industry magazine ads reminding consumers to "drink responsibly" or "enjoy in moderation" fail to convey basic public health information, according to a new study from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
Scientists discover the genomic origin of telomere protectors RNA is one of the most primitive molecules associated with life that has awakened most interest over the last decade; a sister molecule to cellular DNA from which it originates via a process called transcription. Seven years ago, the groups of María Blasco at the Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO), Spain, and Joachim Lingner in Switzerland discovered that the DNA regions that contained telomeres, despite their compact and hard-to-access structure, generated RNAs that they christened TelRNAs or TERRA.
Researchers gain insights into severe form of dwarfism A better understanding of the pathology of a severe form of dwarfism as well as a possible window of treatment have been discovered by researchers at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth).
	Study identifies genetic factors involved in pediatric ulcerative colitis UCLA researchers were part of a team that has discovered the interplay of several genetic factors that may be involved in the development of early-onset ulcerative colitis, a severe type of inflammatory bowel disease.
	Researchers unlock new mechanism in pain management It's in the brain where we perceive the unpleasant sensations of pain, and researchers have long been examining how calcium channels in the brain and peripheral nervous system contribute to the development of chronic pain conditions.
FDA: Little evidence to support testosterone drugs (Update) The Food and Drug Administration says there is little evidence that testosterone-boosting drugs taken by millions of American men are beneficial, though the agency is also unconvinced by studies suggesting the hormone carries serious risks.
Google's health startup forges venture with AbbVie Google's ambitious health startup is teaming up with biotechnology drugmaker AbbVie in a $500 million joint venture that will try to develop new ways to treat cancer and other diseases such as Alzheimer's.
	'Angelina Jolie effect' prompted more testing for breast cancer genes, study finds (HealthDay)—In the months after actress and activist Angelina Jolie revealed last year that she had undergone a preventive double mastectomy because of an increased risk for breast cancer, the number of women referred for genetic counseling went up dramatically, a new Canadian study shows.
	Venous thromboembolism rare after urological procedures (HealthDay)—Deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) are uncommon after urological surgery, according to a study published in the September issue of The Journal of Urology.
Genetic 'hotspot' linked to endometrial cancer aggressiveness Parents of twins often tell them apart through subtle differences such as facial expression, moles, voice tone and gait. Similarly, physicians treating women with endometrial cancer must be able to distinguish between different versions of this disease form that, on the surface, appear the same.
	Blood test for 'nicked' protein predicts prostate cancer treatment response Prostate cancer patients whose tumors contain a shortened protein called AR-V7, which can be detected in the blood, are less likely to respond to two widely used drugs for metastatic prostate cancer, according to results of a study led by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center. If large-scale studies validate the findings, the investigators say men with detectable blood levels of AR-V7 should avoid these two drugs and instead take other medicines to treat their prostate cancer. A report on the work is described online Sept. 3 in the New England Journal of Medicine.
	E-cigarettes may promote illicit drug use and addiction Like conventional cigarettes, electronic cigarettes (or e-cigarettes) may function as a "gateway drug"—a drug that lowers the threshold for addiction to other substances, such as marijuana and cocaine—according to the 120th Shattuck lecture, presented to the Massachusetts Medical Society by Columbia researchers Denise and Eric Kandel and published today in the online edition of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Curb sitting time to protect aging DNA and possibly extend lifespan Curbing the amount of time spent sitting down might help to protect aging DNA and therefore possibly extend the lifespan, suggests a small study published online in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.
	Longitudinal study explores white matter damage, cognition after traumatic axonal injury Traumatic Axonal Injury is a form of traumatic brain injury that can have detrimental effects on the integrity of the brain's white matter and lead to cognitive impairments. A new study from the Center for BrainHealth at The University of Texas at Dallas investigated white matter damage in the acute and chronic stages of a traumatic axonal injury in an effort to better understand what long-term damage may result.
Sepsis patients fare better in hospitals with higher case volumes Patients with sepsis, one of the most time-sensitive and hard-to-detect illnesses in medicine, are more likely to survive the life-threatening condition when treated at a hospital that sees a higher volume of sepsis cases. New research from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania shows a clear relationship between hospitals that treat the most cases of severe sepsis and lower rates of inpatient deaths among those patients. The study, led by David F. Gaieski, MD, an associate professor of Emergency Medicine at Penn, is published online in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.
Transplanted stem cells help prevent bladder fibrosis after spinal cord injury A team of researchers from Korea and Canada have found that transplantation of B10 cells (a stable immortalized human bone marrow derived –mesenchymal stem cell line; B10 hMSC) directly into the bladder wall of mice modeled with spinal cord injury (SCI) helped inhibit the development of bladder fibrosis and improved bladder function by promoting the growth of smooth muscle cells in the bladder.
Innovative algorithm spots interactions lethal to cancer Despite the revolutionary biotechnological advancements of the last few decades, an ideal anti-cancer treatment—one that's immediately lethal to cancer cells, harmless to healthy cells, and resistant to cancer's relapse—is still a dream.
Trouble starting a task? Perception of time may be the problem, study finds Completing tasks and crossing them off the ubiquitous "to-do" list is a great feeling. But what about those nagging tasks we keep putting off? What's the difference between those jobs that get completed and those that do not?
	Scientists discover HIV antibody that binds to novel target on virus An NIH-led team of scientists has discovered a new vulnerability in the armor of HIV that a vaccine, other preventive regimen or treatment could exploit. The site straddles two proteins, gp41 and gp120, that jut out of the virus and augments other known places where broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) bind to HIV. This newly identified site on the viral spike is where a new antibody found by the scientists in an HIV-infected person binds to the virus. Called 35O22, the antibody prevents 62 percent of known HIV strains from infecting cells in the laboratory and is extremely potent, meaning even a relatively small amount of it can neutralize the virus.
Airline pilots, cabin crews have higher incidence of melanoma Airline pilots and cabin crews appear to have twice the incidence of melanoma as the general population.
Leaky gut—A source of non-AIDS complications in HIV-positive patients Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is no longer a fatal condition, thanks to newer medications inhibiting the retrovirus, but a puzzling phenomenon has surfaced among these patients—non-AIDS complications. Scientists at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine have resolved the mystery with their discovery of the leaky gut as the offender. Bacterial products seep out of the colon, trigger inflammation throughout the body and set into motion the processes of cardiovascular, neurodegenerative, chronic kidney and metabolic diseases, and cancer. Their findings appear in an edition this summer of PLOS Pathogens.
Clinical trial to test safety of drug targeting leukemia cells Researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, in partnership with the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) and Celgene Corporation, a New Jersey-based biopharmaceutical company, have launched a phase 1 human clinical trial to assess the safety and efficacy of a novel monoclonal antibody for patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).
	Study links healthy sleep duration to less sick time from work New research suggests that sleeping 7 to 8 hours per night is associated with the lowest risk of absence from work due to sickness. The results underscore the importance of the "Sleep Well, Be Well" campaign of the National Healthy Sleep Awareness Project, a collaboration between the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, American Academy of Sleep Medicine, Sleep Research Society and other partners.
Ebola outbreak in remote DR Congo district both a challenge and a chance When the deadly Ebola virus struck anew last month in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the outbreak was centred in a district sufficiently remote to be both a blessing and a bane for medical staff.
	A lexicon of the brain In April 2013, University Professor Larry Swanson visited the White House in Washington, D.C., to hear President Barack Obama unveil his Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies (BRAIN) Initiative. President of the Society for Neuroscience at the time, Swanson was working on a book that supports the research this initiative will undertake.
	New guidelines plan for more child care places New national planning and development guidelines for child care facilities have been developed in a bid to encourage innovative ways to deliver families more child care places closer to home and work.
Fast-tracking rare disease drug candidates' approval Aspiring new drugs face long and stringent tests on safety and effectiveness before making it to market. And rightly so. But giving drugs special designations that bring with them the right incentives can help bring them to patient. One such drug is OPN-305, a drug candidate that belongs to the family of monoclonal antibodies and might counter inflammation in transplanted kidneys. It has been developed by Opsona Therapeutics a biopharmaceutical company located in Dublin, Ireland.
Filipino nurse from Saudi Arabia positive for MERS (Update) A nurse who flew home from Saudi Arabia last week has been confirmed as the Philippines' second case of Middle East respiratory syndrome.
British Ebola victim discharged from hospital A British nurse infected with Ebola while working in Sierra Leone was discharged from a London hospital on Wednesday after recovering from the disease following treatment with the experimental drug ZMapp.
Ludwig Cancer Research and CRI collaborate on VentiRx's investigational immunotherapy The nonprofits Ludwig Cancer Research (Ludwig) and the Cancer Research Institute (CRI) announced today an agreement with VentiRx Pharmaceuticals Inc., a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company, to conduct a clinical trial with motolimod (VTX-2337) combined with other immunotherapy agents available to Ludwig and CRI through other industry partnerships. VentiRx will provide motolimod, the company's lead immuno-oncology agent, for the study, which will be conducted by Ludwig and CRI through their jointly coordinated CVC Trials Network.
Exposure of pregnant women to certain phenols may disrupt the growth of boys A research consortium bringing together teams from Inserm, the Nancy and Poitiers University Hospitals, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, Atlanta, USA), and coordinated by the Inserm and University of Grenoble Environmental Epidemiology team (Unit 823), has just published an epidemiological study indicating that exposure to certain phenols during pregnancy, especially parabens and triclosan, may disrupt growth of boys during foetal growth and the first years of life. Bisphenol A was not associated with any definite modification in growth. These results are published in this month's issue of the journal Epidemiology, September 2014.
	Are rising health care costs inevitable? If continuing increases in health care costs are inevitable, as some economists predict, is it possible for health care delivery reform to succeed in reducing the overall burden of health care expenditures on the U.S. economy? According to the results of a new study, the focus should shift from cost control to improving utilization rates and quality outcomes, as described in detail in an article in Population Health Management.
Number of Texans without health insurance drops under Affordable Care Act, study shows The percentage of Texans without health insurance dropped after the first enrollment period of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), according to a report released today by the Episcopal Health Foundation and Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy.
US pharmacy giant CVS ends tobacco sales CVS, the leading US drug chain by sales, announced Wednesday that it had stopped selling tobacco products and was changing its name to reflect a greater focus on health.
Mission group identifies 3rd American with Ebola The third American sickened with Ebola is a Boston-area doctor who decided to return to Liberia after the two others fell ill with the deadly virus, the president of his missionary group said Wednesday.
	UN: Fight against Ebola to cost $600 million At least $600 million is needed to fight West Africa's current Ebola outbreak, the World Health Organization announced Wednesday, as the death toll shot up by about 400 in a week to more than 1,900 people.
Obsessive compulsive disorder diagnosis linked to higher rates of schizophrenia A diagnosis of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) appears to be associated with higher rates of schizophrenia and schizophrenia spectrum disorders.
Bariatric surgical center accreditation improves patient survival and postop complications Patients who underwent weight loss operations in recent years, when most bariatric surgical centers were accredited, had fewer postoperative complications and were 2.3 times less likely to die in the hospital than patients who had bariatric procedures performed before a national movement toward facility accreditation was taking place, according to new study findings. Study authors, who published their results in the September issue of the Journal of the American College of Surgeons, say these findings suggest that accreditation of bariatric surgery centers contributes to improved safety for patients who undergo weight loss operations and saves lives.
	Is a gluten-free diet enough to control the complications of celiac disease? A lifelong gluten-free diet (GFD) is the conventional approach to managing celiac disease, a chronic inflammatory disorder affecting the small intestine that can result in malnutrition. However, recent evidence shows that a GFD may not be sufficient to prevent serious complications related to celiac disease. A detailed discussion of the metabolic disorders and functional abnormalities that can develop, and nutritional treatments for these is presented in a Review article published in Journal of Medicinal Food.
Widely used depression drug associated with dental implant failure The International and American Associations for Dental Research (IADR/AADR) have published a paper titled "SSRIs and the Risk of Osseointegrated Implant Failure – A Cohort Study." Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs), the most widely used drugs for the treatment of depression, have been reported to reduce bone formation and increase the risk of bone fracture. Since osseointegration is influenced by bone metabolism, this study investigates the association between SSRIs and the risk of failures in osseointegrated implants. The manuscript, by researchers Khadijeh Al-Abedalla, Samer Abi Nader, Belinda Nicolau, Emad Rastikerdar, Faleh Tamimi and Xixi Wu, from McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; and Nach Daniel, from East Coast Oral Surgery, Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada, is published in the OnlineFirst portion of the IADR/AADR Journal of Dental Research (JDR).
Study sets guideline for determining effectiveness of college football training methods Athletic performance varies from day to day, which can make it difficult for strength and conditioning professionals to judge whether athletes' improvements are due to effective training. Now, University of Missouri researchers have established a guideline that trainers can use to distinguish whether college football players' improvements on weightlifting tests result from increased performance capability or day-to-day variability. These findings could help coaches and other athletic department personnel determine the effectiveness of their training programs and better prepare promising football players for important tests, such as those during the NFL Combine.
Ebola death toll jumps to more than 1,900: WHO (Update) More than 1,900 people have now died of Ebola in west Africa, the World Health Organization said Wednesday, warning the world's worst-ever outbreak of the virus is still gathering pace.
Digital mammography system developed at Mass General Hospital receives FDA approval A digital mammography system developed based on concepts originally tested at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. GE Healthcare received approval to market the SenoClaire Digital Breast Tomosynthesis system, which is based on patented technology licensed from the MGH and developed under the leadership of Daniel B. Kopans, MD, founder and senior radiologist in the Breast Imaging Division of the MGH Department of Radiology.
Gov't forecasts rising health care inflation A new government forecast says the nation's respite from troublesome health care inflation is ending.

Biology news

	Study shows wild monkeys can learn new tricks from watching training videos (Phys.org) —A trio of researchers working in a South American jungle has shown that wild monkeys are able to learn how to perform an activity by watching videos of other monkeys performing the task. In their paper published in the journal Biology Letters, Tina Gunhold, Thomas Bugnyar and Andrew Whiten of the Universities of Vienna and St Andrews, respectively, describe how they trained monkeys to perform tasks, videotaped them doing it and then showed the results to wild marmosets living in Pernambuco Brazil, and what they learned as a result of doing so.
	Cell factory runs with fits and starts Researchers from FOM institute AMOLF have discovered that metabolism, the process that converts molecules in a cell, proceeds irregularly. As metabolism is the motor that drives all biological activity in cells this instability may play a role in diseases such as cancer. The researchers published their study on 3 September 2014 in Nature.
	Cockatoos go to carpentry school Goffin's cockatoos can learn how to make and use wooden tools from each other, a new study has found.
	Burnt out birds suggest hard work could be bad for your health Unequal sharing of workloads in societies could leave the most industrious individuals at higher risk of poor health and prone to accelerated ageing, according to a new study of a cooperative bird in the Kalahari Desert.
	Study sheds light on 'reinforcement' in wildflowers Plants or animals using color to attract a mate is fairly common in nature, but for Phlox drummondii, a wildflower commonly known as Drummond's phlox, just the opposite is true.
	Study reveals troubling loss in Mexico's maize genetic diversity (Phys.org) —The genetic diversity of maize, or corn, is declining in Mexico, where the world's largest food crop originated, report researchers in Mexico and at the University of California, Davis.
	Key to pathogenic slime uncovered (Phys.org) —Dental plaque, the sludge in hot springs and black slime inside of toilets are all examples of biofilms, made of slick communities of bacteria that also play roles in many diseases.
	Cellular RNA can template DNA repair in yeast The ability to accurately repair DNA damaged by spontaneous errors, oxidation or mutagens is crucial to the survival of cells. This repair is normally accomplished by using an identical or homologous intact sequence of DNA, but scientists have now shown that RNA produced within cells of a common budding yeast can serve as a template for repairing the most devastating DNA damage – a break in both strands of a DNA helix.
Sequencing of five African fishes reveals diverse molecular mechanisms underlying evolution In an effort to understand the molecular basis of adaptation in vertebrates, researchers sequenced the genomes and transcriptomes of five species of African cichlid fishes. A research team led by scientists at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard uncovered a variety of features in the cichlid genomes that enabled the fishes to thrive in new habitats and ecological niches within the Great Lakes of East Africa. In addition to helping explain the complex genomic mechanisms that give rise to incredible diversity among cichlid fishes, the findings from these "natural mutants" shed new light on the molecular process of evolution in all vertebrate species.
	Airlock-like transport protein structure discovered Sugars are an essential source of energy for microrganisms, animals and humans. They are produced by plants, which convert energy from sunlight into chemical energy in the form of sugars through photosynthesis.
	Tree frogs speed up their life cycle when becoming lunch Think again if you've always believed that events in the life cycle of animals happen consistently, almost rigidly, as part of the natural rhythm of nature. Studies by Sinlan Poo and David Bickford of the National University of Singapore, Singapore, show that Mother Nature is much more flexible than you might think. In a paper in Springer's journal Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, the researchers describe how Hansen's tree frog (Chiromantis hansenae) speeds up its life cycle to hatch earlier once its eggs are preyed upon.
	New deep sea mushroom-shaped organisms discovered Scientists discovered two new species of sea-dwelling, mushroom-shaped organisms, according to a study published September 3, 2014 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Jean Just from University of Copenhagen, Denmark, and colleagues.
New sequence of naked mole rat genome facilitates cancer resistance research Director of Science at The Genome Analysis Centre (TGAC) Federica Di Palma co-authors new genetic study on the naked mole rat's resistance to cancer, identifying key genomic variations that may have contributed to the evolution of this extraordinary species.
	Sick gopher tortoises are unusually mobile, could be leading to disease spread, study finds Assumptions about how much and how far chronically ill gopher tortoises move around could be wrong, a new University of Georgia study has found. Following the movements of tortoises sick with upper respiratory tract diseases showed that the ailing reptiles migrate farther and could be spreading diseases more than originally thought.
	Scientists monitor semipalmated sandpipers' movements Saturday, Sept. 6 is World Shorebirds' Day—a time to celebrate "fantastic migrants." For biologists Rebecca Holberton and Lindsay Tudor, nearly every day is World Shorebirds' Day.
	100 years later: Passenger pigeon loss is red flag Martha, the very last passenger pigeon in the world, died in her cage at the Cincinnati Zoo 100 years ago on Sept. 1, 1914.
	Honeybee homing hampered by parasite Honeybees infected with a common parasite have a much lower chance of making it back from foraging trips, say scientists.
Pesticide risk assessments seen as biased In the October issue of BioScience, a group of ecotoxicologists argue that the US Environmental Protection Agency's (USEPA) current practices for evaluating pesticide safety are inadequate and likely to result in decisions biased toward industry interests.
	Ecopesticides uses fungi to stop crop destroying insects A New Mexico startup company has begun field tests to prove they can kill desert locusts in Africa using a natural bio-pesticide technology developed at the University of New Mexico. The company, founded by two UNM physicians, is taking on one of the oldest problems in history, the desert locust swarms that can completely destroy food crops in Africa.
	Growing mushrooms in diapers Mexico is the third largest consumer of disposable diapers globally, which led a Mexican scientist to design a technology capable of degrading the product materials by the mushroom Pleurotus ostreatus.
	Galapagos invasion is global warning A new study led by a PhD researcher at The University of Western Australia has revealed that parts of the iconic Galapagos Islands have been overrun by invasive plants from other parts of the world.
	Brown marmorated stink bug biology and management options described in open-access article The brown marmorated stink bug (Halyomorpha halys) is an invasive, herbivorous insect species that was accidentally introduced to the United States from Asia. First discovered in Allentown, Pennsylvania in 1996, it has since been found in at least 40 states in the U.S. as well as Canada, Switzerland, France, Germany, Italy, and Lichtenstein.
	New report finds Scottish shingle thriving A geographical survey by the Universities of Southampton and Cambridge for Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) has found there are more vegetated shingle beaches in Scotland than previously thought – and the majority are in good condition.
Climate change science aided by huge but 'invisible' efforts of amateurs Hundreds of thousands of volunteer data collectors are due for some thanks from scientists, according to a new paper that reveals the role of citizen science in studies of birds and climate change. Data collected by amateurs underpins up to 77 percent of the studies in this field, but that fact is largely invisible by the time the research appears in journals, according to a study published today in the open-access journal PLOS ONE.
Biodiversity in the balance A new study calls into question the evolutionary stability of an ecological explanation of biodiversity.
Global snapshot of infectious canine cancer shows how to control the disease While countries with dog control policies have curbed an infectious and gruesome canine cancer, the disease is continuing to lurk in the majority of dog populations around the world, particularly in areas with many free-roaming dogs. This is according to research published in the open access journal BMC Veterinary Research.
	Japan says to target Antarctic minke whale despite ban Japan plans to resume its slaughter of minke whales in the Antarctic Ocean next year, an official said Wednesday, despite an order from the UN's top court to stop all whaling in the area.
	Pacific fisheries chief warns tuna stocks dangerously low The outgoing head of the fisheries management body for the western and central Pacific has warned that some tuna stocks were now so low they should not be fished.
	Colorado's stunning bee diversity For many people, the mention of bees brings to mind swarms, stings, queens and honey. But the insects fitting that description—non-native European honeybees—represent only one kind of bee.
	Positive steps toward wild Siamese crocodile conservation Building on an international partnership, the Cambodian Crocodile Conservation Project (CCCP) recently invited Nikhil Whitaker, curator at the Madras Crocodile Bank Trust (MCBT) in India to help train keepers at Fauna & Flora International's Siamese crocodile captive breeding programme facility.
	An app for your pets Cummings School veterinary student Loren Sri-Jayantha lived with three people, three cats, two red-footed tortoises and a geriatric reptile known as a bearded dragon this year. "With a house full of veterinary students, you'd think all the pets would receive top-of-the-line care. Instead, we'd unintentionally over-feed them sometimes," he says. One adorable, 20-pound orange tabby would routinely con several meals from his multiple caretakers.
	Japan seeks to resume Antarctic whaling next year Japan is seeking international support for its plans to hunt minke whales in the Antarctic Ocean next year by scaling down the whaling research program the U.N. top court rejected earlier this year, fisheries officials said Wednesday.
	A new tool to correct DNA sequencing errors using consensus and context The rapid development of next-generation DNA sequencing has revolutionized biological and ecological research in the last few years. The cost of DNA sequencing has fallen dramatically, and sequencing machines are becoming a standard piece of lab equipment. Low-cost sequencing is enabling researchers to uncover the gene differences that make some people more susceptible to diseases; to explore the genetic makeup microbial communities from the human gut or the bottom of the ocean; and to rapidly identify the organism responsible for a life-threatening infection.
	UNH survey: Milk prices top concern of Northeastern organic dairy farmers Northeastern organic dairy farms say their top concern is receiving steady, fair prices for their milk from milk processors, according to a new survey that is the first to assess the research and educational needs of organic dairy farmers in the region. The research is funded by the NH Agricultural Experiment Station at the University of New Hampshire College of Life Sciences and Agriculture.
	Spanish scientist obtains international award for 3-D video of a journey to the interior of a cicada A researcher from the University of Granada has obtained an award at the 'Bruker micro-CT user meeting,' an international conference that took place in Ostend, Belgium, for a video which recreates a journey through the interior of an insect (Homalodisca vitripennis, commonly known as 'glassy-winged sharpshooter'). His video, produced with an innovative 3-D technology known as microtomography, has obtained this year's best scientific video award.
Polyester clothes stink after exercise; cotton, not so much Polyester clothes smell worse than cotton, following intensive exercise by their wearers, because bacteria that cause odor grow better on polyester, according to research published ahead of print in the journal Applied and Environmental Microbiology.

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